House passes $717B defense bill that covers Trump military parade

By

Sommer Brokaw

U.S. soldiers march in the Bastille Day military parade in Paris on July 14, 2017. The event inspired President Donald Trump to ask for a military parade in Washington, D.C., which is included in a defense spending bill passed Thursday by House lawmakers. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

A row of U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers line up at a base in Britain. The House on Thursday passed a defense spending bill for fiscal 2019, which includes funding for military equipment and President Donald Trump's military parade. File Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeanette Copeland/USAF/EPA-EFE

May 24 (UPI) -- House lawmakers overwhelmingly voted for a $717 billion defense bill Thursday, which includes funding for the military parade President Donald Trump asked for.

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2019 authorizes funding for new military equipment -- including new submarine- and sea-launched missile systems -- as part of a nuclear modernization program.

The bill also authorized $617 billion for the Pentagon budget, $22 billion for the nuclear weapons program and $69 billion for U.S. military efforts abroad.

House lawmakers passed the proposal by a vote of 351-66, despite Democratic opposition for the new weapons.

"This bill ... pushes us even further and faster down the path to war, toward a new nuclear arms race," warned Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif. "Does it make us safer to have a low-yield nuclear weapon on one of our submarines? Probably not."

Also in the bill is authorization for military equipment and aircraft upgrades, new Russian sanctions and a military parade in Washington, D.C., Trump requested earlier this year. It also gives the Pentagon power to cut small military installations that are no longer needed and reduces some support functions.

"The key focus of this bill is restoring readiness to ensure that when our men and women in uniform go out on mission, they have the best equipment, the best training and the best support our nation can provide," said Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

The Senate Armed Services Committee passed a similar version of the bill Wednesday. Both chambers would have to reconcile their proposals into a finalized version to send to Trump for his signature.